San Francisco, California — December 3, 2025 — Hope Street Group, the national nonprofit working to help every student become future ready, announces the appointment of Peter Callstrom to its Board of Directors.
Callstrom brings a strong record of leadership in workforce development, education, and community partnerships. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Burn Institute in San Diego and has spent his career strengthening the connection between learning and opportunity. His work bridges education, employment, and public service, helping communities build pathways that support economic mobility.
Before joining the Burn Institute, Callstrom served as CEO of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, where he led large-scale efforts to connect job seekers to quality careers. His focus on equity, partnership building, and measurable outcomes has made him a respected voice in the national workforce and economic mobility landscape.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for education and the future of work. Districts across the country are navigating how to integrate AI responsibly, strengthen career pathways, and respond to growing demand for skills based learning. Hope Street Group’s work sits at the center of these national conversations. Callstrom’s experience leading regional workforce strategies and advancing equitable pathways positions him to help guide the organization as it scales its technology platform for students and deepens partnerships with states, districts, and community organizations.
“Peter really is a unicorn in the workforce development space,” said David Ma, CEO of Hope Street Group. “As CEO of the San Diego Workforce Partnership, he brought together partners and supporters you don’t often see working together to create innovative and impactful workforce programs for the community and youth of San Diego. That culture of innovation and coalition-building, grounded in a lifelong commitment to supporting youth as they move into the workforce, makes Peter an outstanding addition to our board. His leadership will be invaluable as we scale FutureMe, our AI powered future readiness platform, and reach more classrooms across the country.”
Callstrom’s appointment comes ahead of the January launch of the organization’s first national FutureReady Challenge, an initiative that lifts up student and educator voices and invites classrooms across the country to design creative solutions that help young people thrive in a changing world. The challenge aims to spark a national conversation about what future readiness requires and how responsible technology can support meaningful career exploration.
“I am honored to join the Board,” said Peter Callstrom. “Helping young people connect what they learn in school to what they want for their future is essential. Hope Street’s focus on responsible technology, educator partnership, and real world career exploration is exactly what students need.”
“Peter brings exactly the type of leadership the country needs right now,” said Allen Blue, Board Chair of Hope Street Group. “Schools, families, and communities are asking for better ways to help students plan for their futures. Peter understands the intersection of technology, workforce, and education, and he knows how to turn that understanding into real systems change. We are thrilled to have him join our Board at such a critical moment in Hope Street’s growth.”
Since 2023, Hope Street Group has been building its core platform, FutureMe, to help high school students become confident, capable, and connected as they plan their next steps. Built with educators and powered by safe AI, FutureMe brings relevance, purpose, and direction into the classroom by helping young people explore careers, identify strengths, and chart meaningful pathways forward.
“As we prepare to scale the FutureReady Challenge and expand FutureMe into more classrooms, Peter’s experience will help us deepen our reach and strengthen our partnerships nationwide,” said Ashley Faison, Chief Development Officer at Hope Street Group. “His commitment to expanding opportunity aligns deeply with our mission and the values that have guided Hope Street since its founding in 2003.”
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About Hope Street Group
Hope Street Group is an AI native nonprofit helping every student graduate confident, capable, and connected. Founded in 2003, the organization has spent more than two decades strengthening the bridge between education and the future of work. Through its flagship platform, FutureMe, Hope Street combines responsible AI technology with educator-led guidance to help students explore career pathways, build essential skills, and plan actionable next steps toward meaningful work. By uniting educators, technologists, and community partners, Hope Street Group is making future readiness an engaging and equitable experience for all learners.

About the FutureReady Challenge
The FutureReady Challenge is a national competition launching in January 2026 that engages students and educators in designing solutions that support future readiness. Participants explore real challenges facing young people and develop innovative ideas informed by responsible technology, career exploration, and lived experience in the classroom. Hope Street Group is partnering with Future Business Leaders of America to bring the challenge to schools across the country. The winning project will be integrated into Hope Street Group’s FutureMe platform, and finalists will present their work at a national briefing to elevate youth and educator perspectives in the future readiness conversation.
Learn more at www.hopestreetgroup.org.

Media Contact:
Lea Montesclaros
Hope Street Group
[email protected]